grrm.astormofswords-第98章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


an　most；　he　deserves　to　be　knighted。　Unless　you　meant　to　steal　him　too。〃
　〃Best　climb　on　that　horse　and　go；〃　warned　Lem。
　〃I'll　go　with　my　gold。　Your　own　god　said　I'm　guiltless　…
　〃The　Lord　of　Light　gave　you　back　your　life；〃　declared　Thoros　of　Myr。　〃He　did　not　proclaim　you　Baelor　the　Blessed　e　again。〃　The　red　priest　unsheathed　his　sword；　and　Arya　saw　that　Jack　and　Merrit　had　drawn　as　well。　Lord　Beric　still　held　the　blade　he'd　used　to　dub　Gendry。　Maybe　this　time　they'll　kill　him。
　The　Hound's　mouth　gave　another　twitch。　〃You're　no　more　than　mon　thieves。〃
　Lem　glowered。　〃Your　lion　friends　ride　into　some　village；　take　all　the　food　and　every　coin　they　find；　and　call　it　foraging。　The　wolves　as　well；　so　why　not　us？　No　one　robbed　you；　dog。　You　just　been　good　and　foraged。〃　Sandor　Clegane　looked　at　their　faces；　every　one；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　mit　them　all　to　memory。　Then　he　walked　back　out　into　the　darkness　and　the　pouring　rain　from　whence　he'd　e；　with　never　another　word。　The　outlaws　waited；　wondering　。　。　。
　〃I　best　go　see　what　he　did　to　our　sentries。〃　Harwin　took　a　wary　look　out　the　door　before　he　left；　to　make　certain　the　Hound　was　not　lurking　just　outside。
　〃How'd　that　bloody　bastard　get　all　that　gold　anyhow？〃　Lem　Lemoncloak　said；　to　break　the　tension。
　Anguy　shrugged。　〃He　won　the　Hand's　tourney。　In　King's　Landing。〃　The　bowman　grinned。　〃I　won　a　fair　fortune　myself；　but　then　I　met　Dancy；　Jayde；　and　Alayaya。　They　taught　me　what　roast　swan　tastes　like；　and　how　to　bathe　in　Arbor　wine。〃
　〃Pissed　it　all　away；　did　you？〃　laughed　Harwin。
　〃Not　all。　I　bought　these　boots；　and　this　excellent　dagger。〃
　〃You　ought　t'have　bought　some　land　and　made　one　o'　them　roast　swan　girls　an　honest　woman；〃　said　Jack…Be…Lucky。　〃Raised　yourself　a　crop　o'　turnips　and　a　crop　o'　sons。〃
　〃Warrior　defend　me！　What　a　waste　that　would　have　been；　to　turn　my　gold　to　turnips。〃
　〃I　like　turnips；〃　said　Jack；　aggrieved。　〃I　could　do　with　some　mashed　turnips　right　now。〃
　Thoros　of　Myr　paid　no　heed　to　the　banter。　〃The　Hound　has　lost　more　than　a　few　bags　of　coin；〃　he　mused。　〃He　has　lost　his　master　and　kennel　as　well。　He　cannot　go　back　to　the　Lannisters；　the　Young　Wolf　would　never　have　him；　nor　would　his　brother　be　like　to　wele　him。　That　gold　was　all　he　had　left；　it　seems　to　me。〃
　〃Bloody　hell；〃　said　Watty　the　Miller。　〃He'll　e　murder　us　in　our　sleep　for　sure；　then。〃
　〃No。〃　Lord　Beric　had　sheathed　his　sword。　〃Sandor　Clegane　would　kill　us　all　gladly；　but　not　in　our　sleep。　Anguy；　on　the　morrow；　take　the　rear　with　Beardless　Dick。　If　you　see　Clegane　still　sniffing　after　us；　kill　his　horse。〃
　〃That's　a　good　horse；〃　Anguy　protested。
　〃Aye；〃　said　Lem。　〃It's　the　bloody　rider　we　should　be　killing。　We　could　use　that　horse。〃
　〃I'm　with　Lem；〃　Notch　said。　〃Let　me　feather　the　dog　a　few　times；　discourage　him　some。〃
　Lord　Beric　shook　his　head。　〃Clegane　won　his　life　beneath　the　hollow　hill。　I　will　not　rob　him　of　it。〃
　〃My　lord　is　wise；〃　Thoros　told　the　others。　〃Brothers；　a　trial　by　battle　is　a　holy　thing。　You　heard　me　ask　R'hllor　to　take　a　hand；　and　you　saw　his　fiery　finger　snap　Lord　Beric's　sword；　just　as　he　was　about　to　make　an　end　of　it。　The　Lord　of　Light　is　not　yet　done　with　Joffrey's　Hound；　it　would　seem。〃
　Harwin　soon　returned　to　the　brewhouse。　〃Puddingfoot　was　sound　asleep；　but　unharmed。〃
　〃Wait　till　I　get　hold　of　him；〃　said　Lem。　〃I'll　cut　him　a　new　bunghole。　He　could　have　gotten　every　one　of　us　killed。〃
　No　one　rested　very　fortably　that　night；　knowing　that　Sandor　Clegane　was　out　there　in　the　dark；　somewhere　close。　Arya　curled　up　near　the　fire；　warm　and　snug；　yet　sleep　would　not　e。　She　took　out　the　coin　that　Jaqen　H'ghar　had　given　her　and　curled　her　fingers　around　it　as　she　lay　beneath　her　cloak。　It　made　her　feel　strong　to　hold　it；　remembering　how　she'd　been　the　ghost　in　Harrenhal。　She　could　kill　with　a　whisper　then。
　Jaqen　was　gone；　though。　He'd　left　her。　Hot　Pie　left　me　too；　and　now　Gendry　is　leaving。　Lommy　had　died；　Yoren　had　died；　Syrio　Forel　had　died；　even　her　father　had　died；　and　Jaqen　had　given　her　a　stupid　iron　penny　and　vanished。　〃Valar　morghulis；〃　she　whispered　softly；　tightening　her　fist　so　the　hard　edges　of　the　coin　dug　into　her　palm。　〃Ser　Gregor；　Dunsen；　Polliver；　Raff　the　Sweetling。　The　Tickler　and　the　Hound。　Ser　Ilyn；　Ser　Meryn；　King　Joffrey；　Queen　Cersei。〃　Arya　tried　to　imagine　how　they　would　look　when　they　were　dead；　but　it　was　hard　to　bring　their　faces　to　mind。　The　Hound　she　could　see；　and　his　brother　the　Mountain；　and　she　would　never　forget　Joffrey's　face；　or　his　mother's　。　。　。　but　Raff　and　Dunsen　and　Polliver　were　all　fading；　and　even　the　Tickler；　whose　looks　had　been　so　monplace。
　Sleep　took　her　at　last；　but　in　the　black　of　night　Arya　woke　again；　tingling。　The　fire　had　burned　down　to　embers。　Mudge　stood　by　the　door；　and　another　guard　was　pacing　outside。　The　rain　had　stopped；　and　she　could　hear　wolves　howling。　So　close；　she　thought；　and　so　many。　They　sounded　as　if　they　were　all　around　the　stable；　dozens　of　them；　maybe　hundreds。　I　hope　they　eat　the　Hound。　She　remembered　what　he'd　said；　about　wolves　and　dogs。
　e　morning；　Septon　Utt　still　swung　beneath　the　tree；　but　the　brown　brothers　were　out　in　the　rain　with　spades；　digging　shallow　graves　for　the　other　dead。　Lord　Beric　thanked　them　for　the　night's　lodging　and　the　meal；　and　gave　them　a　bag　of　silver　stags　to　help　rebuild。　Harwin；　Likely　Luke；　and　Watty　the　Miller　went　out　scouting；　but　neither　wolves　nor　hounds　were　found。
　As　Arya　was　cinching　her　saddle　girth；　Gendry　came　up　to　say　that　he　was　sorry。　She　put　a　foot　in　the　stirrup　and　swung　up　into　her　saddle；　so　she　could　look　down　on　him　instead　of　up。　You　could　have　made　swords　at　Riverrun　for　my　brother；　she　thought；　but　what　she　said　was；　〃If　you　want　to　be　some　stupid　outlaw　knight　and　get　hanged；　why　should　I　care？　I'll　be　at　Riverrun；　ransomed；　with　my　brother。〃
　There　was　no　rain　that　day；　thankfully；　and　for　once　they　made　good　time。
　
　CHAPTER　40
　BRAN
　
　The　tower　stood　upon　an　island；　its　twin　reflected　on　the　still　blue　waters。　When　the　wind　blew；　ripples　moved　across　the　surface　of　the　lake；　chasing　one　another　like　boys　at　play。　Oak　trees　grew　thick　along　the　lakeshore；　a　dense　stand　of　them　with　a　litter　of　fallen　acorns　on　the　ground　beneath。　Beyond　them　was　the　village；　or　what　remained　of　it。
　It　was　the　first　village　they　had　seen　since　leaving　the　foothills。　Meera　had　scouted　ahead　to　make　certain　there　was　no　one　lurking　amongst　the　ruins。　Sliding　in　and　amongst　oaks　and　apple　trees　with　her　net　and　spear　in　hand；　she　startled　three　red　deer　and　sent　them　bounding　away　through？the　？rush。　Summer　saw　the　flash　of　motion　and　was　after　them　at　once。　Bran　watched　the　direwolf　lope　off；　and　for　a　moment　wanted　nothing　so　much　as　to　slip　his　skin　and　run　with　him；　but　Meera　was　waving　for　them　to　e　ahead。　Reluctantly；　he　turned　away　from　Summer　and　urged　Hodor　on；　into　the　village。　Jojen　walked　with　them。
　The　ground　from　here　to　the　Wall　was　grasslands；　Bran　knew；　fallow　fields　and　low　rolling　hills；　high　meadows　and　lowland　bogs。　It　would　be　much　easier　going　than　the　mountains　behind；　but　so　much　open　space　made　Meera　uneasy。　〃I　feel　naked；〃　she　confessed。　〃There's　no　place　to　hide。〃
　〃Who　holds　this　land？〃　Jojen　asked　Bran。
　〃The　Night's　Watch；〃　he　answered。　〃This　is　the　Gift。　The　New　Gift；　and　north　of　that　Brandon's　Gift。〃　Maester　Luwin　had　taught　him　the　history。　〃Brandon　the　Builder　gave　all　the　land　south　of　the　Wall　to　the　black　brothers；　to　a　distance　of　twenty…five　leagues。　For　their　。　。　。　for　their　sustenance　and　support。〃　He　was　proud　that　he　still　remembered　that　part。　〃Some　maesters　say　it　was　some　other　Brandon；　not　the　Builder；　but　it's　still　Brandon's　Gift。　Thousands　of　years　later；　Good　Queen　Alysanne　visited　the　Wall　on　her　dragon　Silverwing；　and　she　thought　the　Night's　Watch　was　so　brave　that　she　had　the　Old　King　double　the　size　of　their　lands；　to　fifty　leagues。　So　that　was　the　New　Gift。〃　He　waved　a　hand。　〃Here。　All　this。〃
　No　one　had　lived　in　the　village　for　long　years；　Bran　could　see。　All　the　houses　were　falling　down。　Even　the　inn。　It　had　never　been　much　of　an　inn；　to　look　at　it；　but　now　all　that　remained　was　a　stone　chimney　and　two　cracked　walls；　set　amongst　a　dozen　apple　trees。　One　was　growing　up　through　the　mon　room；　where　a　layer　of　wet　brown　leaves　and　rotting　apples　carpeted　the　floor。　The　air　was　thick　with　the　smell　of　them；　a　cloying　cidery　scent　that　was　almost　overwhelming。　Meera　stabbed　a　few　apples　with　her　frog　spear；　trying　to　find　some　still　good　enough　to　eat；　but　they　were　all　too　brown　and　wormy。
　It　was　a　peaceful　spot；　still　and　tranquil　and　lovely　to　behold；　but　Bran　thought　there　was　something　sad　about　an　empty　inn；　and　Hodor　seemed　to　feel　it　too。　〃Hodor？　〃　he　said　in　a　confused　sort　of　way。　〃Hodor？　Hodor？〃
　〃This　is　good　land。〃　Jojen　picked　up　a　handful　of　dirt；　rubbing　it　between　his　fingers。　〃A　village；　an　inn；　a　stout　holdfast　in　the　lake；　all　these　apple　trees　。　。　。　but　where　are　the　people；　Bran？　Why　would　they　leave　such　a　place？〃
　〃They　were　afraid　of　the　wildlings；〃　said　Bran。　〃Wildlings　e　over　the　Wall　or　through　the　mountains；　to　raid　and　steal　and　carry　off　women。　If　they　catch　you；　they　make　your　skull　into　a　cup　to　drink　blood；　Old　Nan　used　to　say。　The　Night's　Watch　isn't　so　strong　as　it　was　in　Brandon's　day　or　Queen　Alysanne's；　so　more　get　through。　The　places　nearest　the　Wall　got　raided　so　much　the　smallfolk　moved　south；　into　the　mountains　or　onto　the　Umber　lands　east　of　the　kingsroad。　The　Greatjon's　people　get　raided　too；　but　not　so　much　as　the　people　who　used　to　live　in　the　Gift。〃
　Jojen　Reed　turned　his　head　slowly；　listening　to　music　only　he　could　hear。　〃We　need　to　shelter　here。　There's　a　storm　ing。　A　bad　one。〃
　Bran　looked　up　at　the　sky。　It　had　been　a　beautiful　crisp　clear　autumn　day；　sunny　and　almost　warm；　but　there　were　dark　clouds　off　to　the　west　now；　that　was　true；　and　the　wind　seemed　to　be　picking　up。　〃There's　no　roof　on　the　inn　and　only　the　two　walls；〃　he　pointed　out。　〃We　should　go　out　to　the　holdfast。〃
　〃Hodor；〃　said　Hodor。　Maybe　he　agreed。
　〃We　have　no　boat；　Bran。〃　Meera　poked　through　the　leaves　idly　with　her　frog　spear。
　〃There's　a　causeway。　A　stone　causeway；　hidden　under　the　water。　We　could　walk　out。〃　They　could；　anyway；　he　would　have　to　ride　on　Hodor's　back；　but　at　least　he'd　stay　dry　that　way。
　The　Reeds　exchanged　a　look。　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　asked　Jojen。　〃Have　you　been　here　before；　my　prince？〃
　〃No。　Old　Nan　told　me。　The　holdfast　has　a　golden　crown；　see？〃　He　pointed　across　the　lake。　You　could　see　patches　of　flaking　gold　paint　up　around　the　crenellations。　〃Queen　Alysanne　slept　there；　so　they　painted　the　merlons　gold　in　her　honor。〃
　〃A　causeway？〃　Joien　studied　the　lake。　〃You　are　certain？〃
　〃Certain；〃　said　Bran。
　Meera　found　the　foot　of　it　easily　enough；　once　she　knew　to　look；　a　stone　pathway　three　feet　wide；　leading　right　out　into　the　lake。　She　took　them　out　step　by　careful　step；　probing　ahead　with　her　frog　spear。　They　could　see　where　the　path　emerged　again；　climbing　from　the　water　onto　the　island　and　turning　into　a　short　flight　of　stone　steps　that　led　to　the　holdfast　door。
　Path；　steps；　and　door　were　in　a　straight　line；　which　made　you　think　the　causeway　ran　straight；　but　that　wasn't　so。　Und